News

Report: Everton 1-1 Spurs

Posted on 25 September 2001
- 12:00

English Barclays Premiership

A point won, countless plaudits earned. Nine men gamely stuck to their task for 31 minutes after referee David Elleray somehow managed to dish out straight red cards to Gary Doherty and Gus Poyet. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;The travelling fans&#38;rsquo&#59; collective leap for joy said all &#38;mdash&#59; this was a moral victory, even if the scoreline says otherwise. &#60;IMG align&#61;left border&#61;1 src&#61;&#34;&#47;media&#47;images&#47;decorative&#47;photos&#47;evetotAA.jpg&#34;&#62; &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;Such was the organisation and hard work of what was, at most times, an eight-man defensive unit that the home side barely carved out a chance. Goodison Park might be the &#38;lsquo&#59;school of science&#38;rsquo&#59;, but Everton need re-educating on how to break down nine men. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;So what about the cards&#63; Harsh&#63; Not strong enough &#38;mdash&#59; better not go there then. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;With 62 minutes on the clock, Campbell latched onto another Ferguson flick but as he shaped to shoot, the excellent Doherty slid in and whipped the ball off his toe. That&#38;rsquo&#59;s how it looked &#38;mdash&#59; but Mr Elleray not only pointed to the spot, but sent big &#38;lsquo&#59;Doc&#38;rsquo&#59; off. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;He trudged off with a look of disbelief on his face and Ferguson made no mistake from the spot to level the scores. &#60;IMG align&#61;right border&#61;1 src&#61;&#34;&#47;media&#47;images&#47;decorative&#47;photos&#47;evetotAD.jpg&#34;&#62; &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;A minute later and Poyet left, what Glenn Hoddle later described, as a &#38;lsquo&#59;lazy foot&#38;rsquo&#59; in as Steve Watson burst down the right. Cue second red card. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;But we dug in and, if anything, Everton&#38;rsquo&#59;s play suffered. They resorted to throwing the ball into Ferguson and, this time, it didn&#38;rsquo&#59;t pay off. Campbell had two efforts, Ferguson one and Gemmill blasted into the stand in the final minute. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;The first half was all about football. King, Bunjevcevic and Doherty&#38;nbsp&#59;were tested to the limit by Ferguson and Campbell but stuck it out. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;Chances came from all angles, the pick saw Alexandersson hit the bar, Campbell get in the way of Stubbs&#38;rsquo&#59; goalbound header and Sullivan save superbly from the defender. &#60;IMG align&#61;left border&#61;1 src&#61;&#34;&#47;media&#47;images&#47;decorative&#47;photos&#47;evetotAB.jpg&#34;&#62; &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;But then we went ahead. It was all about Anderton. He picked up a clever pass from Sheringham, continued going forward, exchange passes with Poyet and suddenly he was in the area &#38;mdash&#59; flicked the ball to Iversen whose shot was blocked but there was the midfielder to slide home the loose ball. Incredibly, 1-0 with 44 minutes on the clock. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;Then another bizarre decision. Pembridge crossed deep, Alexandersson volleyed home but the whistle went &#38;mdash&#59; no goal. &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;How little we all knew of what was to follow&#33; &#60;P class&#61;MsoNormal&#62;&#38;nbsp&#59;&#60;&#63;xml&#58;namespace prefix &#61; o ns &#61; &#34;urn&#58;schemas-microsoft-com&#58;office&#58;office&#34; &#47;&#62;&#60;o&#58;p&#62;&#60;&#47;o&#58;p&#62;